Drifting snow measurements on the Greenland Ice Sheet and their application for model evaluation | CU Experts

Abstract. This paper presents autonomous drifting snow observations performed on the Greenland Ice Sheet in the fall of 2012. High-frequency Snow Particle Counter (SPC) observations at ~1 m above the surface provided drifting snow number fluxes and size distributions; these were combined with meteorological observations at six levels. We identify two types of drifting snow events: katabatic events are relatively cold and dry, with prevalent winds from the southeast, whereas synoptic events are short-lived, warm and wet. Precipitating snow during synoptic events disturbs the drifting snow measurements. Output of the regional atmospheric climate model RACMO2, which includes the drifting snow routine PIEKTUK-B, agrees well with the observed near-surface climate at the site, as well as with the frequency and timing of drifting snow events. Direct comparisons with the SPC observations at 1 m reveal that the model overestimates the typical size of drifting snow particles, as well as the horizontal snow transport at this level.;

Lenaerts JTM; Smeets CJPP; Nishimura K; Eijkelboom M; Boot W; van den Broeke MR; van de Berg WJ

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